PRAIRIE GROVE -- During their senior season, 2018 Prairie Grove graduates, Katharine McConnell and Kylie Scott, were named All-Conference in softball for the 4A-1.
Scott was also an All-State selection. In 21 games, Scott batted .516 with 76 plate appearances. She pounded out 33 hits in 64 at-bats with 23 runs scored, 21 RBIs, 11 doubles and 3 triples. She took 10 free passes against 7 strike-outs and was hit by a pitch once. Her on-base percentage was .587 and her slugging percentage .781 and contributed 13 stolen bases. Scott made no errors over the course of the entire season with a 1.000 fielding percentage and made one double play.
Scott's versatility enabled her to pitch two innings in a single appearance. She gave up no runs on 1 hit striking out 3 and yielding 1 base-on-balls while facing 8 batters and 7 at-bats using 32 pitches to get through 2 innings.
Katharine McConnell's batting average was .531 with 74 plate appearances. She led the Lady Tigers with 34 hits in 64 at-bats with 21 runs scored, 17 RBIs, 10 doubles, 3 triples, and 1 home run. Katharine McConnell got on base via balls 6 times against 9 strike-outs and was hit by a pitch once. Her on-base percentage was .569 and her slugging percentage .828, plus she contributed 11 stolen bases. Katharine McConnell commited just one error in 21 games compiling a fielding percentage of .962.
Elkins 12, Prairie Grove 6
A late inning 4-run rally couldn't bring Prairie Grove back after the Lady Tigers fell behind early in a 12-6 loss to Elkins Wednesday, April 4, in softball action.
Elkins took a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning forcing Prairie Grove to play from behind, a trend which lasted the duration of the contest.
Prairie Grove scored one run in the first and third innings, but trailed 7-2 going into the fifth inning. First-year Prairie Grove coach Brandy Carte attributed the deficit to an inability to drive base-runners around in the early innings.
"We started out leaving too many girls on base," Carte said, explaining that made a comeback difficult.
Trailing 11-2 in the bottom of the sixth, the Lady Tigers finally got their bats going. Junior catcher Sara Benton led off with a single and was replaced by courtesy runner Karaline McConnell at first. Liberty Kidd stepped up with a quality at-bat after falling behind 0-1 with a bunt foul and 1-2 with a swing and miss. Kidd took the next two pitches for balls, the second of which allowed Karaline McConnell to steal second. Facing a full-count, Kidd fouled off a pitch, then calmly took ball-four to earn a free pass.
With runners at the corners, freshman Sydney Stearman smacked the first pitch for a 2 RBI triple into left field. Scott came up to bat and Sydney Stearman scored on a passed ball. Scott's at-bat was almost identical to Kidd's. She fell behind 0-1 with a foul and 1-2, then took two balls to reach a full-count before fouling off a pitch eventually drawing a walk.
Katharine McConnell blasted a triple, driving in Scott and used her speed to slide under a tag safely at third. The Lady Tigers were within 11-6 with no outs, but the rally stalled and Katharine McConnell was left stranded at third.
Elkins starter sophomore Lakyn Whelpey got out of the inning with a strike-out, fly-out and by inducing a grounder to shortstop. She threw 132 pitches, fanning 7 and allowing 8 hits over 7 innings.
"I've been watching her a long time and that's one of her better outs I've seen her with," Carte said. "She was throwing very well, moving the ball well."
The loss dropped the Lady Tigers to 2-11 overall, yet Carte says the team is improving.
"We got a little rally going at the end," Carte said. "It was too late. We waited too long."
Sports on 06/20/2018